Greetings Birders,
The last few days of birding has been really nice!
On 2 May I spent the morning around Martinez Lake. I finally caught up with FORSTER'S TERNS--usually these are a lot more common in this area. Also feeding over the lake were 5 handsome BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Almost all of the waterfowl have headed north, leaving the lake to CLARK'S and a couple of WESTERN GREBES. An unexpected treat was hearing a BENDIRE'S THRASHER singing its scratchy song at Mesquite Point.
On 3 May I went up to Mittry Lake with Vernie and Jeremy. At the rail overlook, we heard our first BLACK RAIL of the morning, but even better, we watched as a SHORT-EARED OWL flew and banked over the cattail marsh. Later, at the Solar Pond, I watched a BELTED KINGFISHER land on the power line with a crawdad (crayfish) in its bill, and then slam it repeatedly against the thick line. But crawdads are tough, and the little guy was still wriggling when the kingfisher flew off. The neighboring wheat field and its weedy border presented a smorgasbord to dozens of LAZULI BUNTINGS, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and a few WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. And one lone INDIGO BUNTING, a rare breeder in Yuma County.
Today, on 4 May I drove north to the Vicksburg Farms in search of Eric's Glossy Ibis. I found most of the ibises missing, but there were still plenty of other nice birds such as WILSON'S PHALAROPES, SWAINSON'S HAWKS, and a VAUX'S SWIFT. I spotted a mid-sized shorebird that I first thought must be a Pectoral Sandpiper, but I was curious about its lack of a clean, well-defined edge to its breast markings. A bit of research (chevrons along the bird's flanks) and confirmation from the experts revealed that it was a vagrant SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER. Meanwhile, at the Solar Pond, Vernie and Jeremy turned up a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK!
My 2025 AZ Big Year total now stands at 336.
eBird reports with some photos:https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/CpEgC3Ymkgf7BgAnWugfjfQhKu0?<domain...>
Good Birding!Henry D. <Detwilerhenry_detwiler...>, AZ
Finding Birds in Southwest Arizonahttps://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/Tg70C4WnljTYo20XRIxhJf4i3ah?<domain...> Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/kigPC5AomkfgvPjBwTyi3fke6Qh?<domain...>
